Sunday, August 21, 2011

Stacia Turned SIX

This is a post about Stacia, but it will be hard not to write it about ME. ::snort::  Hard to believe our baby is six years old. Harder still to believe that somewhere in the last six years I've learned to be content if she is the last. I certainly wasn't content to have her be our last four years ago when we lost the twins.....but now I see...

It's O.K.  for God to be sovereign. It's O.K. to move into new seasons. It's a JOY to move into these seasons as Stacia's Mommy.

We knew last week would be busy....so we surprised Stacia Sunday a.m. with decorations and gifts. We asked what her perfect birthday would look like.  "Going to Burger King and taking the food to the Weasel's Den (indoor play area)." She was SURE.

Proving once again how uniquely she graces our family - she insisted she did NOT want one of our famous Ice Cream Cakes....she wanted an "Newman O cake".

We went about making her dreams come true.  She chose the flying pig hat.

Shaun the Sheep is always a hit

This thing says 50 PHRASES....and wouldn't be quiet all through the commissary. It was hilarious to see the confusion of the bagger and to reveal the mystery to her at the end. LOL


 Either too much cake or a REALLY bad hand of cards? 

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Lessons in a Storm or Where HAS De'Etta Been?

Blog readers know my motto is to embrace life in the fish bowl.....mainly because I was raised in the fish bowl...being a pastor's kid and a missionary kid....and then married into the fish bowl...it seems healthy to embrace it.

However, in the past few weeks I hit a spot where it seems unwise to be totally transparent.

Life has been tough...the Lover of my soul has met me IN THE STORM. Life has had a few unexpected twists and turns in the past few weeks. Enough said....but I CAN share

Lessons I've learned....

God faithfully prepared me with journal entries from the months prior
  • "God will allow all to be shaken in my life so that which remains is stronger. His kingdom cannot be shaken. In times of shaking I'm to serve with gratitude." 
  • Or: "Lord, help me be quick to look for you in unexpected storms." 
  • Or: "My sheep know my voice and a strange voice they simply will not follow. Father, may I listen for and follow your voice alone."
I have felt these lyrics in  new ways the past few weeks.

Here before Your altar
I am letting go
of every motive, every burden , everything's that of myself
I just wanna wait on your my God
I just wanna dwell on who You are
Here in your presence
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash your feet with humble tears 
I would be poured out till nothings left

It's possible to forgive instantly and walk in  forgiveness. Walking in forgiveness keeps channels open for God to work in hearts all around.

Leaders make decisions, fail, make mistakes and learn from them. 

I am NOT a perfect leader (knew that ::snort::), neither am I a perfect failure (need to remember this). I hear over and over the words God clearly spoke to me in moment of near panic over leadership responsibility, "I don't call you to be perfect, I call you to be faithful." That was good 2 years ago and it's good today. 

My words at WILD ring in my spirit, "Follow the heart of your king!"

I learned that I still want to be practically perfect. When all broke loose I was "weathering well" until Kari Jobe "My Beloved" came on. I was gasping and sobbing so hard I had to pull over at the train park (and don't think THAT wasn't shocking to kind folks in the park).

You're My Beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me my love...

I was gasping out, "No. I've failed AGAIN."  His words were sweet.... it's precisely in times when I feel least deserving I most need to embrace intimacy with Him. 

Again I heard  "let Me lead,"  "keep your gaze focused on Me," "dance with Me." 

Now is the time to STAND and FIGHT for the vision He birthed  years ago....

God  waits for us to say, "It's all YOU God or this is not working!" and He steps in and shows His stuff. I'm in awe.

NEVER say you will "never" do anything in ministry...there just is no telling where that sort of silliness will take you.  ::grin:: 

Finally, if God is sovereign...He is! That's it. Nothing more. This includes His hand in Air Force assignments, personality conflicts, leadership issues, health, natural disasters....He is sovereign.






New one introduced to me by a dear Sister/mentor


Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...